Pinto opens up over his suspension

[HansonBro]

Ottawa Senators forward Shane Pinto lifted the lid on his 41-game suspension for violating the NHL's gambling rules.

"I had my buddies - because I was in Canada - just place bets for me in America," he explained during a recent appearance on the "Empty Netters" podcast. "I wasn't a Canadian citizen so I couldn't really use a Canadian sportsbook. ... That's proxy betting, so that's obviously a big no-no. It was an illegal act so, obviously, it was a pretty big deal.

"So that's why we didn't want to fight (the suspension) and we just kinda accepted it."

Pinto says gambling suspension was result of proxy betting

Ottawa Senators forward Shane Pinto lifted the lid on his 41-game suspension for violating the NHL's gambling rules. "I had my buddies - because I was in Canada - just place bets for me in America," he explained during a recent appearance on the "Empty Netters" podcast. "I wasn't a Canadian...

www.thescore.com

Click to read more...

 

[FriendlyGhost92]

Was he betting on NHL games? If not, a 41 game suspension for proxy betting on non-NHL games is laughable considering what the league lets go for banned physicality.

Benn cross checked another guy on the back of the neck again? Nah. Part of the faceoff battle. Trouba deliberately stuck his elbow out and hit somebody in the head? $5K fine. Proxy betting?! 41 game suspension!

 

[ToDavid]

Was he betting on NHL games? If not, a 41 game suspension for proxy betting on non-NHL games is laughable considering what the league lets go for banned physicality.

Benn cross checked another guy on the back of the neck again? Nah. Part of the faceoff battle. Trouba deliberately stuck his elbow out and hit somebody in the head? $5K fine. Proxy betting?! 41 game suspension!

By all reports he was "proxy betting" in his own US account. So it seems unlikely he was attempting to hide betting on anything he wasn't supposed to, and was legitimately just trying to get around the fact that he was out of the country.

I think he made the unfortunate decision of doing something that is technically proxy betting, and proxy betting is so closely associated with hiding nefarious gambling (and illegal in any case), that the league had to come down hard to show they have zero tolerance.

 

[FriendlyGhost92]

By all reports he was "proxy betting" in his own US account. So it seems unlikely he was attempting to hide betting on anything he wasn't supposed to, and was legitimately just trying to get around the fact that he was out of the country.

I think he made the unfortunate decision of doing something that is technically proxy betting, and proxy betting is so closely associated with hiding nefarious gambling (and illegal in any case), that the league had to come down hard to show they have zero tolerance.

I mean, if they wanna do that, cool...

... But again, if he wasn't betting on NHL games, it's ridiculous to give him the same suspension Voynov got for slamming his wife's head into a TV.

 

[SomeDude]

You forgot to mention that interview is brought to us by Draft Kings. Isn’t just paying your rent and utility bills boring? Wouldn’t it be more fun to risk it all on a 3-leg parlay? Remember when you want to make an ill advised financial decision, go to Draft Kings.

 

[stempniaksen]

Gambling in sports is a slippery slope, just look at what's going on in basketball and soccer.

League probably felt the need to throw the book at him while there isn't/wasn't much of a precedence for him to fight the suspension.

It's silly at face value, but the league cares about revenues and this type of thing (could) cause more of an issue for the bottom line than a dangerous on-ice play.

Makes all those people posting from earlier this season saying he "definitely bet on hockey" look stupid though.

 

[saintunspecified]

I mean, if they wanna do that, cool...

... But again, if he wasn't betting on NHL games, it's ridiculous to give him the same suspension Voynov got for slamming his wife's head into a TV.

The difference is that Pinto is talking about it after signing a contract to play in the NHL, resuming his career. Any idiot trying to bring Voynov back would have legitimately faced a firestorm from fans, sponsors, and the league. Not all consequences are official/CBA related.

Also, I think there's a reckoning to be had about the major sports leagues involvement in betting. But that's a different topic.

 

[ponder719]

I mean, if they wanna do that, cool...

... But again, if he wasn't betting on NHL games, it's ridiculous to give him the same suspension Voynov got for slamming his wife's head into a TV.

Agreed, but not because Pinto's suspension was too high. Voynov's was too low. I'm not getting into that subject too deeply, but violent criminal acts like that should be met with immediate indefinite suspensions not dissimilar to the Quenneville/Bowman suspensions, IMO.

I understand why the NHL (all team sports, really) cracks down so hard on this, and it's because while on-ice physicality is dangerous, and acts like Voynov's are reprehensible, they're not existential threats to the sport. Allowing the players too much leeway to gamble could be. Major team sports got spooked by the Black Sox scandal, and the potential legal repercussions not merely to the players, but to the league itself. The last thing they need is for people to think that their product is rigged (beyond people being cranky about the lottery and other dumb crap like that), because that's when the money dries up. You either need to very successfully rebrand like pro wrestling did, or you're done.

From an optics standpoint, the best way to convince people you're serious about the integrity of your competition is to make it clear that players aren't enriching themselves over and above their contracted rate, and if you have to clamp down on things that probably shouldn't be illegal for the sake of those optics, you do it. All leagues do, just ask Pete Rose.

 

[FriendlyGhost92]

The difference is that Pinto is talking about it after signing a contract to play in the NHL, resuming his career. Any idiot trying to bring Voynov back would have legitimately faced a firestorm from fans, sponsors, and the league. Not all consequences are official/CBA related.

Also, I think there's a reckoning to be had about the major sports leagues involvement in betting. But that's a different topic.

Oh I'm clear on the social unacceptability factor keeping Voynov out (Rightfully so) but it's the optics of both having the same length suspension.

Agreed, but not because Pinto's suspension was too high. Voynov's was too low. I'm not getting into that subject too deeply, but violent criminal acts like that should be met with immediate indefinite suspensions not dissimilar to the Quenneville/Bowman suspensions, IMO.

I understand why the NHL (all team sports, really) cracks down so hard on this, and it's because while on-ice physicality is dangerous, and acts like Voynov's are reprehensible, they're not existential threats to the sport. Allowing the players too much leeway to gamble could be. Major team sports got spooked by the Black Sox scandal, and the potential legal repercussions not merely to the players, but to the league itself. The last thing they need is for people to think that their product is rigged (beyond people being cranky about the lottery and other dumb crap like that), because that's when the money dries up. You either need to very successfully rebrand like pro wrestling did, or you're done.

From an optics standpoint, the best way to convince people you're serious about the integrity of your competition is to make it clear that players aren't enriching themselves over and above their contracted rate, and if you have to clamp down on things that probably shouldn't be illegal for the sake of those optics, you do it. All leagues do, just ask Pete Rose.

I'd say Voynov's too low, Pinto's too high, IF Pinto wasn't betting on NHL games.

... Now if he was betting on NHL games, you've gotta hammer him just because it puts the integrity of the game in question.

Quenneville/Bowman got hammered because they're not NHLPA.

 

[Beukeboom Fan]

I think he made the unfortunate decision of doing something that is technically proxy betting, and proxy betting is so closely associated with hiding nefarious gambling (and illegal in any case), that the league had to come down hard to show they have zero tolerance.

"This message brought to you by the MGM Sports book! Where TGO and his family would place their bets!*"

* Disclaimer - please bet responsibly! Need help with a gambling problem? Please call 1-800-522-4700.

Seriously though - the difference in suspensions between this and other terrible acts, is those terrible acts do not potentially impact the integrity of the game. Voynov's domestic altercation, or Mike Richards import/export activities don't impact our corporate overlords. The gambling entities can't have their potential customers think the fix might be in, which is why NBA just banned a player (Jontay Porter) for life.

 

[saintunspecified]

Oh I'm clear on the social unacceptability factor keeping Voynov out (Rightfully so) but it's the optics of both having the same length suspension.

It's CBA related, could have gone to an arbitrator, but Pinto didn't bring it. The comparison has nothing to it beyond the purely superficial. It doesn't even make the list of things that look bad in the league unless you classify it under the heading 'utter hypocrisy with respect to gambling' which is there regardless of Pinto's suspension. I doubt anyone who covers hockey will even mention it.

 

[Toene]

Was he betting on NHL games? If not, a 41 game suspension for proxy betting on non-NHL games is laughable considering what the league lets go for banned physicality.

Benn cross checked another guy on the back of the neck again? Nah. Part of the faceoff battle. Trouba deliberately stuck his elbow out and hit somebody in the head? $5K fine. Proxy betting?! 41 game suspension!

Crashing through a Tim Hortons while drunk out of your mind... meh.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Dirty dirty gambler

 

[Crazy Cizikas]

It’s uncommon for someone to own up to their mistakes without casting blame on everyone around them.

Good on him.

 

[NVious]

"This emotionally forthcoming interview was sponsored by BetMGM, for the best sports entertainment in the world, place a bet today with codeword #SENS for a 100% bonus, gamble responsibly"

 

[Nogatco Rd]

I mean, if they wanna do that, cool...

... But again, if he wasn't betting on NHL games, it's ridiculous to give him the same suspension Voynov got for slamming his wife's head into a TV.

Random thing to compare it to. Why not just say Voynov should’ve been suspended longer?

 

[FriendlyGhost92]

Random thing to compare it to. Why not just say Voynov should’ve been suspended longer?

... That's kinda the point. It's the fact that this is essentially being equated to Voynov beating the piss out of his wife.

 

[ShootIt]

Can we bet on him being suspended again for betting?

 

[NVious]

Can we bet on him being suspended again for betting?

Only if you do so responsibly.

 

[Mike C]

You forgot to mention that interview is brought to us by Draft Kings. Isn’t just paying your rent and utility bills boring? Wouldn’t it be more fun to risk it all on a 3-leg parlay? Remember when you want to make an ill advised financial decision, go to Draft Kings.

Odds are on the top of your screen!

 

[Voight]

Everyone and their mother knew things like this would happen when SCOTUS opened up sports betting.

 

[POVERTY]

Absolutely shameful by Pinto. He should do what any responsible athlete would do and instead indirectly profit off of gambling addiction via a FanDuel sponsorship.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Absolutely shameful by Pinto. He should do what any responsible athlete would do and instead indirectly profit off of gambling addiction via a FanDuel sponsorship.

Promote gambling to consumers who don't have 1/10th of the revenue you have to blow on gambling? No problem!

Gamble yourself?!?! Bad guy!!

 

[dirtydanglez]

he found out the hard way you dont mess around with the money.

easy to see why he didnt fight the suspension seems like the league had a clear cut case.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Was he betting on NHL games? If not, a 41 game suspension for proxy betting on non-NHL games is laughable considering what the league lets go for banned physicality.

Benn cross checked another guy on the back of the neck again? Nah. Part of the faceoff battle. Trouba deliberately stuck his elbow out and hit somebody in the head? $5K fine. Proxy betting?! 41 game suspension!

So like a lot of thought, gave buddies access to his account.
And no didn’t bet on NHL games, the league said that at initial suspension.

Can we bet on him being suspended again for betting?

As long as it’s not a proxy bet